Niger: Bandits kill six in Tungan-Makeri, burn police station in Konkoso
Armed Attack Claims Six Lives in Niger State, Police Station Set Ablaze
BORGU, Niger State — An armed group reportedly killed six individuals and torched a police station in Konkoso, following an assault in the nearby community of Tungan-Makeri on Friday night.
The attack, which began around 8 p.m., involved over 200 armed assailants who stormed Tungan-Makeri, firing indiscriminately and igniting multiple structures. Witnesses indicated that the attack lasted several hours, resulting in numerous casualties and widespread displacement among residents.
An eyewitness from Zagatina village, located along the assailants’ route, recounted observing around 41 motorcycles, with two to three individuals on each, as they passed by, some accompanied by women and children. “I quickly hid in the bush when I saw them approaching my house,” the local resident stated.
Following the events in Tungan-Makeri, the group reportedly advanced to Konkoso on Wednesday morning, where they operated without a visible security presence. During this assault, the police station in the town was set ablaze, escalating tensions in the region.
Residents have expressed particular concern over the situation, as Tungan-Makeri and Konkoso are considered key towns within the Borgu Local Government Area. There were also reports of an Air Force aircraft observed in the vicinity of Tungan-Makeri shortly after the initial attack, a detail that some residents believe may have prompted the assailants to withdraw from the area.
As of the time of this report, efforts to obtain official commentary from the Niger State Police Command were unsuccessful. The incident has reignited fears over security in Borgu LGA, with local residents demanding immediate action to bolster defenses against further incursions.
